Twin Cities Woman Successfully Sues Norway
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Twin Cities woman has won a historic case against the country of Norway.
Ellen Ewald sued Norway after finding out she had different benefits and pay than her male co-workers at the Norwegian Consulate.
A U.S. District Court judge awarded Ewald more than $170,000 in lost wages and $100,000 for emotional distress.
Ewald says she hopes the ruling will encourage other women to come forward about discrimination in the work place.
"I hope we can move in a direction where women can feel that if they raise their voice and if they do complain about an injustice that they feel they've experienced that it's not going to cost them an arm and a leg to defend themselves," Ewald said.
Norway will also have to pay a $1,000 penalty fee to the state of Minnesota for violating equal pay and discrimination laws.